The ORIGINAL gathering place for a merry band of Three Percenters. (As denounced by Bill Clinton on CNN!)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

What is a "Three Percenter"?

The Three Percent in 1775.

During the American Revolution, the active forces in the field against the King's tyranny never amounted to more than 3% of the colonists. They were in turn actively supported by perhaps 10% of the population. In addition to these revolutionaries were perhaps another 20% who favored their cause but did little or nothing to support it. Another one-third of the population sided with the King (by the end of the war there were actually more Americans fighting FOR the King than there were in the field against him) and the final third took no side, blew with the wind and took what came.

Three Percenters today do not claim that we represent 3% of the American people, although we might. That theory has not yet been tested. We DO claim that we represent at least 3% of American gun owners, which is still a healthy number somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 million people. History, for good or ill, is made by determined minorities. We are one such minority. So too are the current enemies of the Founders' Republic. What remains, then, is the test of will and skill to determine who shall shape the future of our nation.

The Three Percent today are gun owners who will not disarm, will not compromise and will no longer back up at the passage of the next gun control act. Three Percenters say quite explicitly that we will not obey any further circumscription of our traditional liberties and will defend ourselves if attacked. We intend to maintain our God-given natural rights to liberty and property, and that means most especially the right to keep and bear arms. Thus, we are committed to the restoration of the Founders' Republic, and are willing to fight, die and, if forced by any would-be oppressor, to kill in the defense of ourselves and the Constitution that we all took an oath to uphold against enemies foreign and domestic.

We are the people that the collectivists who now control the government should leave alone if they wish to continue unfettered oxygen consumption. We are the Three Percent. Attempt to further oppress us at your peril.

To put it bluntly, leave us the hell alone.

Or, if you feel froggy, go ahead AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

This is a linkable version of the explanation at the upper right hand corner of my blog, Sipsey Street Irregulars (sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com). It was suggested by good friends that we needed a linkable version, so here it is as a straight-up post and also as an email to my private list. Feel free to circulate it far and wide.

What's missing from talk of American insurgencies is that critical Information Warfare piece that is required for an insurgency to achieve it's desired end state (win). 20% of the population does not have to support an activity directly, but legitimizes the insurgents efforts. Without this, an actor never gets beyond the terrorist moniker forced on them by the Opposition.

The inactive, but supporting population creates this perception of legitimacy. Perception management is the broad means of achieving this. The Center of Gravity in successful insurgencies is legitimacy of the insurgents aims and actions---not the act of combat itself (such as holding ground).

People are the critical terrain-key terrain-in any revolution. Without that, the effort is doomed from the start. Which is why the various militias in the U.S. are incapable of archiving what they vocally desire.

PSYOPS and Civil Affairs are part of U.S. Army Special Forces for this reason, largely to support the Unconventional Warfare (guerrilla) aspect of that organization.

Lets all send this on...and see if 3% can become 4...or more. Most elections are lost by less..Send this link to your congressman, and let them know that our predecessors fought, and that we will fight. We will stand up for the Constitution of the United States of America. Let them know WE WILL NO LONGER vote for soft, money hungry, anti-constitutional politicians, regardless of there declared political affiliation. WE THE PEOPLE was the dream, and WE THE PEOPLE need to lift our voices and stand up for that dream.

I agree with Mark, cultivation of the supporting masses is important. I think it was Mao Tse Tung that said you need 10% of a population to support the action. In addition, a safe where you have protection from harrasment, and recognition from a foreign state. In Pakistan today, you have all three of these at once, a sympathetic state, a mountainous region, and at least 10% of the Pak population supporting AlQ./Taliban. If Mao Tse Tung was correct, we'll end up losing after taking a serious ass-kicking.

Here in the US, we'll need more "support" than we have at the moment. It will take something like, the ATMs not spitting out money on demand to move enough people.

Howdy.the 3% is a matter of record of the amout of people living in the 13 colonies at that time who fought against the British.and at that time it was extimated that there were only a little over three million people in the 13 colonies.today we have over 300 million living in the 50 states, and #% of that number or 3 million, can be a MIGHTY force to have to deal with.God help the TRAITORS if they keep pushing this anti-gun issue among other issues that are UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNLAWFUL.we will NOT' go peacefully into the night..Jim.

Excellent blog piece! Not to mention a place to feel WELCOME among brothers in arms and fellow citizen patriots. Come and join more of your brother Apple Seeders! Great minds think alike but sometimes may require some camoflage. Why do I suspect you already are? ;O)

"I know that there is a somewhat anachronistic version of "The 3% in 1775" floating around somewhere.

You know, the one where these same militiamen were holding ARs or M16s."

I have a copy of it. The tan coat guy has an m4, the guy in the foreground kneeling is changing mags, and the guy kneeling behind the tan coat is getting a mag out of a bag. I have no idea where I got it from.

It is signed "DOCROCK" in the lower left corner. The file is titled "LexingtonM4minutemen".

I don't know how to post it and I don't have the link.

If somebody wants to post it I could email it to them. I don't know the copywrite status tho.

The number of supporters are there. They are the followers. The three percenters are the leaders. When we stand and act many of you may be suprised at the number that come from the shadows and fall in step with us. "All evil needs to prevail is for good men to do nothing." The time for action is fast approaching. I for one intend to be armed and ready!!!!

I am a patriot and a rifleman - like my father before me. I have sworn the same oath he did many years ago:

I, Ward Dorrity, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion pledging my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor. So help me God.

Obama supporters have accepted collectivism and the premises of the ideas that support it. Like it or not (and perhaps they do), know it or not (and perhaps they don't care), they have opted for slavery of the most insidious type. Those choices have consequences. Those consequences start here, now, with me.

That distant thunder that you may hear rolling through far-off hills is war.

War is coming. Here. Soon.

And, like my father before me, I am prepared. I am prepared to honor my oath.

Revolutions are chaotic, dangerous things. We were blessed-by-Providence lucky in our first one in 1776. We got freedom and George Washington, while the French with theirs in 1789 got the guillotine and Napoleon. Which will we get in the coming Second American Revolution?

The pervasive quantum weirdness we are experiencing is clearly pointing towards mass societal breakdown. We will emerge out the other side of it with either more freedom or more fascism. You can bet it will be the latter unless there is a planned, concerted, purposeful, and organized effort to secure the former.

Our founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

Few in this country will risk anything at all, much less fortunes and lives. There is precious little honor in making braggadocious statements while not lifting a finger to fight the greatest oppressors, the Fed and their minions at the IRS. You don't need guns in that battle. You need guts and wits, two other sorely lacking qualities amongst the heroes of our times.

Great Post! These are truly interesting times we live in. The Government has inched its way further and further into our lives until we hardly notice their intrusion anymore. Obama has done one good thing since coming into office.. he has awakened the American People. He has renewed in us that since of patriotism and given those who once were not involved a reason to stand up for their rights and DEMAND the government to stand down. We must stand together and cry out in one voice. Benjamin Franklin said, We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately". I am American. I am a Three Percenter. And I WILL stand with you. ~ArcJ

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." Samuel Adams

it saddens me to see our leaders in this country I love, be the enemy to me and my family, and to be mere cattle to the swine that worship nothing but the almighty dollar. At the same time, I feel that today is an exciting time to be in, and that the things I read in school, about America and the battles its fought to be a free country (at home and abroad), and then I think that this time could become as critical as the civil war, if not more critical. People say that America needs unity. That we seperate for race, status, and gender, but I feel that the issues we face today could very well be the tie that binds us all into one cause, TO KEEP THE REPUBLIC FREE, AND THE CONSTITUTION IN ACTION.

This marxist admistration is only the front for our real enemy which is the heads of the federal reserve and all of it's offshoots. These people have no allegence to anything except power and dispise our freedom because it stands in the way of their ultimate goal, world socialism. Isn't it strange that good ol Senator Rockfeller is pushing so hard for the "public option".

I am a 3% and we are with you in New hampshire. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the true patriots of this great nation. We do need to get organized. All militia, patriots and like need to come together. however with the patriot act all things on the internet are monitored so we need to go old school.

Very interesting read here, I had no idea that only 3% were the patriot fighters. I did/do have the suspicion that for a movement to have success it would need 20% of a population in a supporting roll.

Before the guns come out - Before I have to shoot and kill someone, or they me - Before there starts a civil war that many think is coming – There are some actions that could pull the emergency brake on the runaway Obama regime.

National strike. Employees stay home from work for a week. Employers close up for a week.

Think that would send a strong enough message to the regime that we’re not willing to go along with the destruction of our freedoms and rights ?

Imagine tuning in to Limbaugh and Beck, and reading on a few blogs that a one week National Patriotic Strike was planned for X/X/XXX date to show the regime that we won’t cooperate.

Email your favorite conservative patriot radio person and blogger. They speak to millions daily so if they got themselves coordinated and behind this, they could do make it happen. Tell them please.

I sure would love to see 100% of you 3% put into Federal Prison, that is assuming 100% of you survive your Redneck Revolution.

My guess is that you're a band of ROTC dropouts mixed in with some Aryan Nation stragglers that have managed to cover up your tattoos enough to be able to hold a job somewhere.

At any rate, I'll be seeing you fucking traitors later, I'm sure, when you're in nice Orange Jumpsuits after some half assed domestic terrorism "plan" of yours goes wrong because you have joined up with te other Terrorists.

I'll be sure to send you clowns Soap on a Rope for Christmas so you don't get cornholed in the shower after breaking rocks all day.

Traitors to what? Not the US Constitution. Not to the republis of the United States of America. Not the Ten Commandments. Not the Bible, nor even God. Traitor to socialism, communism, nazis, yes, Yes, YES!!! If you must steal from me to feed your face, you have betrayed your own realized potentials and are not a real man.

Ok.... Where is the nut a couple of posts up from mine from? Traitors? Obviously he went to a socialist school. Never read 'The 5000 Year Leap.' Has no concept of the constitution. Nope. Just spouts some foul language and tries to make me feel bad.

Well, perhaps I am a redneck. I grew up being taught about Jesus, freedom, respect for my elders and for those in authority. However, it was always about deserved respect.

3% - I'm in with both feet! And fortunately, I am educated. Mostly, self educated, because many of our schools have become cesspools of innept activity. Ok.. So I am not a wordsmith like some folks. I get by.

Anonymous - In short, take your socialist ideas and your friends to another country. Get the heck out of mine! I love the USA. We have some cleaning up to do.

One of the best things we can do is, VOTE!... Not only can we VOTE. It is our duty! - Elect the right people. From the School Board Member and City Council-person all the way up the line. I would urge the rest of us to run for office!

I think there are a substantial percentage of patriots who keep a low profile, yet keep an ear to the rail via the internet. So numbers appear artificially low, yet real support is surprisingly high. My first Tea Party confirmed this supposition.

That said, When a "National Emergency" is declared, such that The Internet is shutdown, that would certainly constitute a Lantern in the Old North Church.

Most people know how to survive, they simply need to be reassured who's on their side.

Until that time, just keeping folks informed as to the government's games is the best use of the resource.

A well armed militia is the only thing that stands between us and tyranny and I pray that this group is both well armed and well informed. This is the time for clear headed rational Patriots to fight first at the Ballot box. If our keepers of the Constitution refuse to do their due dilligence, then and only then will they reap what they have sown.Keep a level head and your powder dry.

Bush = Obama , there is no difference except to divide the masses with false hope of 'choice'. They divide us by class , by race , by age , gender , sexual preference. They divide us by any and all means at their disposal and when they run out of that they will make up reasons we should hate one another and remain divided while they tighten the noose even further.

Welath and power are their gods , they use the medai to make the serfs desire wealth and power as well , this works in conjunction with the divisions to create envy and hatred.

Damn them all. All the mealy mouthed politicians , all those who will fight for them , all those who will use the same excuse used at Nuremberg " I was only following orders " - That excuse is invalid and will NOT be forgiven.Not this time.

What's missing from talk of American insurgencies is that critical Information Warfare piece that is required for an insurgency to achieve it's desired end state (win). 20% of the population does not have to support an activity directly, but legitimizes the insurgents efforts.

OMG, too many comments, too much absolutely glorious, God-given intelligence in all these comments, in all this site!

I would think I've died and gone to heaven, but for the fact that, when I turn my face from the screen, it's still 1984 outside.

I am so proud to see so many TRULY patriotic men and women here, people willing to do the work too many today are too willing to abdicate or eliminate altogether- that of the control of their out-of-control government.

I am glad to call you all my brothers-in-arms, and pray that we all can stand valiantly at the end, whether it ends for good or ill, knowing that for whatever lies they make up after we're gone, we all did what was RIGHT.

I have returned from darkness and quiet. I used to style myself as "Joe Claus", Santa Claus’ younger brother because that is what I still look like. I wrote my heart out about liberal politics until June of 2006, when all that could be said had been said. I wrote until I could write no more and I wrote what I best liked to read when I was young and hopeful: the short familiar essays in Engish and American periodicals of 50 to 100 years ago. The archetype of them were those of G.K. Chesterton, written in newspapers and gathered into numerous small books. I am ready to write them again. I am ready to write about life as seen by the impoverished, by the mentally ill, by the thirty years and more of American Buddhist converts, and by the sharp eyed people [so few now in number] with the watcher's disease, the people who watch and watch and watch. I am all of these.

Nice review, Nice to be visiting your blog again, has been months for me. Well this article that i've been waited for so long. need this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your article. I would like to say thanks to author for this great efforts.

I believe all the administrations are too blame. We spend too much time pointing the finger at the Obama administration, and it discredits the movement. The extreme separation in political ideology in this country only serves to divide us as a people. The media driven political machine uses this as their most powerful weapon to usurp us. Wake up, open your eyes.

Anonomous you are a perfect example of whats wrong with the mass majority of our country. You blindly and totally defend Obummer and his out right socialist agenda. You should reserch with an open mind, Obummers rise to the presidency. He was and still is a puppet. You cant defend Obummer and blame the mass media because the media is the biggest defender, supporter and promoter of his agenda. So either study up or shut up.......

I should have mentioned it much earlier but I included your 'What is a "Three Percenter"?' post in the first link that follows and specifically mentioned your 'Sipsey Street Irregulars' blog in all three:1. Some Second Amendment/Gun Rights links... https://www.facebook.com/notes/joe-kidd/some-second-amendmentgun-rights-links/784788348200389 2 & 3. Some information and links on the Obama administration's Fast and Furious scandal https://www.facebook.com/notes/joe-kidd/some-information-and-links-on-the-obama-administrations-fast-and-furious-scandal/1037257352953486 & https://joekiddone.wordpress.com/2015/08/07/some-information-and-links-on-the-obama-administrations-fast-and-furious-scandal/

"Progress made under the shadow of the policeman's club is false progress."

I believe that liberty is the only genuinely valuable thing that men have invented, at least in the field of government, in a thousand years. I believe that it is better to be free than to be not free, even when the former is dangerous and the latter safe. I believe that the finest qualities of man can flourish only in free air – that progress made under the shadow of the policeman's club is false progress, and of no permanent value. I believe that any man who takes the liberty of another into his keeping is bound to become a tyrant, and that any man who yields up his liberty, in however slight the measure, is bound to become a slave. -- H.L. Mencken

On the efficacy of passive resistance in the face of the collectivist beast. . .

Had the Japanese got as far as India, Gandhi's theories of "passive resistance" would have floated down the Ganges River with his bayoneted, beheaded carcass. -- Mike Vanderboegh.

In the future . . .

When the histories are written, “National Rifle Association” will be cross-referenced with “Judenrat.” -- Mike Vanderboegh to Sebastian at "Snowflakes in Hell"

"Smash the bloody mirror."

If you find yourself through the looking glass, where the verities of the world you knew and loved no longer apply, there is only one thing to do. Knock the Red Queen on her ass, turn around, and smash the bloody mirror. -- Mike Vanderboegh

From Kurt Hoffman over at Armed and Safe.

"I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

From long experience myself, I can only say, "You betcha."

"Only cowards dare cringe."

The fears of man are many. He fears the shadow of death and the closed doors of the future. He is afraid for his friends and for his sons and of the specter of tomorrow. All his life's journey he walks in the lonely corridors of his controlled fears, if he is a man. For only fools will strut, and only cowards dare cringe. -- James Warner Bellah, "Spanish Man's Grave" in Reveille, Curtis Publishing, 1947.

"We fight an enemy that never sleeps."

"As our enemies work bit by bit to deconstruct, we must work bit by bit to REconstruct. Be mindful where we should be. Set goals. We fight an enemy that never sleeps. We must learn to sleep less." -- Mike H. at What McAuliffe Said

"The Fate of Unborn Millions. . ."

"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their Houses, and Farms, are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they consigned to a State of Wretchedness from which no human efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of unborn Millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this army-Our cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; that is all we can expect-We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die." -- George Washington to his troops before the Battle of Long Island.

"We will not go gently . . ."

This is no small thing, to restore a republic after it has fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may be that our task is impossible. Yet, if we do not try then how will we know it can't be done? And if we do not try, it most certainly won't be done. The Founders' Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, will be lost.

But I tell you this: We will not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we will make with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from that day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.

And when we are gone, the scattered, free survivors hiding in the ruins of our once-great republic will sing of our deeds in forbidden songs, tending the flickering flame of individual liberty until it bursts forth again, as it must, generations later. We will live forever, like the Spartans at Thermopylae, in sacred memory.

-- Mike Vanderboegh, The Lessons of Mumbai:Death Cults, the "Socialism of Imbeciles" and Refusing to Submit, 1 December 2008

"A common language of resistance . . ."

"Colonial rebellions throughout the modern world have been acts of shared political imagination. Unless unhappy people develop the capacity to trust other unhappy people, protest remains a local affair easily silenced by traditional authority. Usually, however, a moment arrives when large numbers of men and women realize for the first time that they enjoy the support of strangers, ordinary people much like themselves who happen to live in distant places and whom under normal circumstances they would never meet. It is an intoxicating discovery. A common language of resistance suddenly opens to those who are most vulnerable to painful retribution the possibility of creating a new community. As the conviction of solidarity grows, parochial issues and aspirations merge imperceptibly with a compelling national agenda which only a short time before may have been the dream of only a few. For many Americans colonists this moment occurred late in the spring of 1774." -- T.H. Breen, The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence, Oxford University Press, 2004, p.1.